2027: Daniel Shut Out As Ogun East APC Endorses Abiodun For Senate

FORMER governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Gbenga Daniel, was snubbed and shut as leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in district, on Monday, April 20, endorsed Governor Dapo Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the next year’s senatorial election.
The decision was taken at a gathering of party leaders and grassroots representatives held at Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode.
Daniel was not allowed into the caucus meeting where such an important decision concerning the district he represents was to be taken.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, said the event was attended by members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, former and serving local government chairmen, past and present lawmakers at both state and national levels, councillors from all wards in the district, women and youth leaders.
Speaking during the meeting, a former senator from the district, Lekan Mustapha, said the decision was due to a shared conviction that Abiodun possessed the capacity to represent the district effectively in the senate.
Mustapha added: “Party leaders would formally communicate the endorsement to the governor, including a commitment to purchase his nomination forms for the 2027 election.
“We will put a body together to deliver this message to our governor that he has been adopted as the consensus candidate.”
He described Abiodun as a leader of strong character and sound intellect who should be given all the support to be in the senate next year.
On his part, Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, said the governor’s track record in governance and party cohesion make him deserving of the Senate seat.
Addressing his supporters from a white bus outside the venue of the event, Daniel said any decisions taken would be invalid.
“We are here for our Ogun East APC caucus meeting, but surprisingly, we have been barred.
“We are told that we can’t enter, but let it be said that whatever they do here today is null and void,” he said in Yoruba.
Recall that in August last year, the state chapter of the party suspended him indefinitely over alleged anti-party activities.
That was after he had asked his supporters to vote for Bolarinwa Oluwole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 16 by-election in the state to fill the vacancy in the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, following the death of Adewunmi Onanuga.
APC’s Adesola Elegbeji, however, won the election.